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Restrictions in Srinagar to prevent protests

Restrictions in Srinagar to prevent protests

SRINAGARCURFEWSrinagar : Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of the city here in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to prevent a separatist-called protest and maintain law and order, police said.

There is prohibitory orders in place in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, M.R.Gunj, Safa Kadal and Maisuma where heavy deployments of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been made.

The post-Friday prayer protests are against “repression”. The separatist leaders have asked the preachers at the mosques to highlight the excesses committed by India during their sermons.

All higher secondary schools and colleges have been shut to prevent student protests. Classes at the Kashmir University have also been suspended for the day.

—IANS

Protests against Iran’s economy serves political aims

Protests against Iran’s economy serves political aims

People gather to protest over high cost of living in Tehran, Iran on December 30, 2017.

People gather to protest over high cost of living in Tehran, Iran on December 30, 2017.

By Elahe Salari,

Tehran, Iran: The ongoing demonstrations in Iran that began as a protest against the retrograde economic conditions of the country are being diverted to serve political aims within a short period of time, according to journalist and political expert Abbas Abdi on Sunday.

“It is clearly felt that the people who have been defeated in the latest presidential elections are happy to see these mass demonstrations,” Abdi told Anadolu Agency.

Thousands of Iranians hit the streets in northeastern cities on Thursday to protest against rising commodity prices and perceived government mismanagement. The protest then turned into a nationwide anti-government demonstration.

The Iranian Students News Agency quoted Mashhad Governor Mohammad Rahim Norouzian as saying that police had eventually dispersed the protests, while more than 50 demonstrators had been taken into custody.

“Those who received high dividends for the money they invested started to demand their investment back following the losses, even though there was no guarantee of the government and the Central Bank,” Abdi said, pointing out that demonstrations were caused by “submerged finance companies”.

Abdi pointed out that since the majority of the wrecked finance companies were located in the northeastern province of Khorasan, the demonstrations began in Mashhad, a city located in the center of the province.

He noted that mistakes made in the field of economy during the period of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government were also among the causes behind the recent protests. “Of course, the incidents are only the beginning of this medium, apart from this, many people from the bottom layer of the society have been waiting for such an environment to express their voices.”

But he underlined that economic issues were not the only reason behind the recent protests.

“It is clearly felt that the circles that were defeated in the presidential elections are happy to see these demonstrations but the main issue this group ignores is that the economic problem-based protests in Iran are being diverted quickly into the other medium, including the political one.”

Abdi also touched up on the impact of the incidents in Iran that could affect neighboring countries in the region.

“It is natural enough that the countries that do not have good relations with Iran are enjoying this situation. In the same way, Iran also enjoys if similar events are happened in those countries,” he added.

He also mentioned that Iran was “not happy with the defeated coup attempt in Turkey last year” as it would have paved a way towards instability of the region.”

Similarly, countries that do not want instability in the region would not be happy with the developments in Iran, according to Abdi.

—AA

Protests mark 33rd anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy

Protests mark 33rd anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy

Bhopal gas tragedy protestBhopal : Angry protests were witnessed in Bhopal on Sunday as the city marked the 33rd anniversary of the gas tragedy that killed thousands.

The decades-old pain was visible on the faces of protesters as they shouted slogans against the state and the Central government and also the Union Carbide Corporation for their apathy and inaction.

Early on December 3, 1984, toxic methyl isocyanate leaked from the Union Carbide Corporation’s pesticide plant here, killing and injuring thousands. Lakhs of people are still affected and many are dying.

A prayer meet was held in Barkatullah Bhavan where tributes were paid to those who died after the gas leak.

On the other hand, several people, under the leadership of Bhopal Group for Information and Action, held a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan.

The protesters, draped in a white cloth, lay on the road outside the Governor’s official residence since 6 a.m., protesting the timing of the marathon ‘Run Bhopal Run’ which is being held on Sunday. While half of Bhopal is mourning, the other half is celebrating, they said.

The Bhopal Group for Information and Action took out another rally that reached the site of the Union Carbide Corporation plant and announced that they will continue to protest until justice is done.

—IANS